The short answer
Breville Bambino Plus scored 9.1/10 in our bench testing. The sub-$500 espresso machine that finally gets milk texture right, with a 3-second heat-up.
- BrewBench score
- 9.1/10
- Observed price
- $499
- Category
- Espresso Machines
- Best for
- Small kitchens and latte lovers
Fastest heat-up in class (3 s), the best auto milk texturing under $1,000, and real PID temperature stability. It fits on a dorm-room counter and pulls shots that hold their own against $800 machines.
This page is the long-form view of one product from our Best Espresso Machines Under $500 (2025) round — 64 hours of instrumented testing plus a nine-person blind panel. The full protocol is published, and so is every number behind the score.
What we like and what we don't
What we like
- ThermoJet heats in 3 seconds — no wait between shots
- Auto milk texturing rivals entry-level pro machines
- Real 54 mm commercial-style 58 mm-group portafilter feel
What we don't
- Small 54 mm basket limits dose headroom
- Plastic tamper is forgettable
Measured specifications
What the bench recorded
- Type
- Semi-automatic
- Boiler
- ThermoJet (3 s heat-up)
- Pressure
- 9 bar PID-controlled
- Portafilter
- 54 mm
- Tank
- 1.9 L
- Footprint
- 19.5 × 32 cm
Common questions
FAQ
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it?
BrewBench graded the Breville Bambino Plus 9.1/10. The sub-$500 espresso machine that finally gets milk texture right, with a 3-second heat-up. We recorded $499 as the US retail price when we tested it (2025-11-18) — street prices move, so check the current price before you buy.
How did BrewBench test the Breville Bambino Plus?
The Breville Bambino Plus was part of our Best Espresso Machines Under $500 (2025) round: 64 hours of instrumented testing for this category — particle analysis for grinders, thermocouple logging for machines and kettles, 10 Hz scale capture for pours — followed by a nine-person blind panel with coded cups. The full protocol and every pick are in the guide.
Who is the Breville Bambino Plus best for?
It is built for Small kitchens and latte lovers. The strongest thing we measured: thermojet heats in 3 seconds — no wait between shots. The main trade-off: small 54 mm basket limits dose headroom
Where can I buy the Breville Bambino Plus?
We link out to Amazon with an affiliate tracking link — we may earn a commission, which never changes a score or a pick. The price above is the one we observed at test time, not a quote from BrewBench: we do not sell this product.